All students are eligible for an initial consultation with a Counseling Services therapist, and based upon that conversation the clinician and student will work together to find a course of action that best suits the student's needs. There are a variety of options, including but not limited to time-limited individual counseling with a Counseling Services therapist, joining a themed group (such as a stress management or an educational coping skills group), or participating in a group that focuses on students' experiences relating to others. We also offer psychiatric evaluation and medication management.

We are staffed by two licensed clinical social workers, and one credentialed drug and alcohol counselor/licensed creative arts therapist.

Appointments

During the academic year, please call 585-389-2500 to schedule an appointment with one of our counseling staff members or psychiatric provider.

*Summer Hours: during the summer months, the counseling service will be available, to enrolled students only, on Wednesday and Thursday 11am-2pm. Please call our office directly to schedule an appointment. If you experience a mental health crisis outside of theses hours, please contact Mobile Crisis at 585-275-5151.

Counseling Services

Individual Counseling

Counseling Services offers confidential, time-limited individual counseling sessions. Students work collaboratively with their therapist to determine the frequency of visits. Sessions last for 45-50 minutes and are free to students enrolled at Nazareth College.

Group Counseling

Counseling Services offers relationship-oriented groups that provide a safe space to connect to others in a meaningful way and to learn concrete techniques to cope with emotional reactions. Among the groups:

Crisis Prevention and Resources

Counseling Services staff are available for both consultation and crisis management. The college also has a Crisis Response Team under the auspices of the President and senior staff of the College, which is activated as necessary.

Psychiatric Services

Counseling Services works closely with a consulting psychiatric provider, who is typically on campus 4 hours per week during the academic year. Students in need of psychiatric evaluation and medication management are welcome to work with our consulting psychiatric provider after referral from one of our counselors. Psychiatric services are free for current students.

Helplessness/hopelessness/prolonged unhappiness/pessimism about the future

Use of mood-altering chemicals

Bizarre or strange behavior, including impaired or garbled speech, disjointed thoughts, loss of contact with reality, or a stark lack of emotionality

Overt or veiled references to suicide (verbal or written)

Homicidal threats (verbal or written)

Addressing a student distress problem

Speak with the student in private, specifically stating your reasons for concern. Mention concrete behaviors and observations rather than speculations about what the student might be thinking or feeling.

Listen carefully, avoiding criticism, labels, and judgment. Offer support by expressing interest in the student's experiences and feelings. For more guidance about how to approach the conversation, contact us.

If you feel the student would benefit from coming to Counseling Services, convey this to the student. When you do so, normalize help-seeking by letting them know that seeking help is courageous and that many students come to Counseling Services. Tell them what you know about our services and staff. Make sure to mention that counseling is both free and confidential.

Confidentiality

Clinical information about students is NOT shared between Health Services and Counseling Services without the written consent of the student.

Counseling Services clinicians are ethically and legally bound to confidentiality. There are three situations in which Counseling Services staff may ethically and legally need to breach confidentiality to protect the client and other people:

if the client is an imminent danger to him/herself or others

if physical and/or sexual abuse of a child or elder is suspected

if a valid court order for clinical records is issued

The Counseling Services staff works as a treatment team and may share information about clients within the team for consultation and supervision purposes. The Counseling Services staff also works closely with a consulting psychiatrist, and information may be shared between these two parties in order to coordinate care. In all other situations, client information will only be released with the student's express consent. In group counseling, confidentiality is explicitly discussed and group members agree to keep the group members' identities, as well as the information they reveal in group, confidential.